Cheung Sai-ho, a Year-two student of the Master of Science in Advanced Information Systems, is one of the five recipients of The Hong Kong Youth Service Award presented by The Hongkong Federation of Youth Groups last month. This award is in recognition of his innovative use of technology and his courage to live a full life in spite of his physical disabilities. Sai-ho contributes greatly to the community and has inspired many people by his huge passion for life. His unswervingly positive attitude and determination has made him a role model for many students and alumni. The BUddy Post is delighted to have Sai-ho sharing with us his unusual journey through an in-depth interview.
The ‘Rotten Orange in the Garbage’ Graduated with First-Class Honours
Sai-ho has been suffering from cerebral palsy due to brain damage caused by cerebral asphyxia since his birth. He has encountered severe physical impairment and language disorders, which hinder his performance on daily tasks. His father, Mr. Cheung, not only takes care of Sai-ho’s daily life, but also acts as his ‘interpreter’, bridging him with the outside world.
Sai-ho’s academic result was poor when he was studying in a special school. He obtained a grade-U (i.e. unclassified) in Use of English in Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination. Thus, his parents never have much expectation on him academically and Mr. Cheung even described his son as ‘a rotten orange in the garbage’. However, Sai-ho did not give up. He showed great interest in computer and successfully passed with flying colours in the public examination in Computer Studies and continued his study in Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE).
Due to his poor English, Sai-ho felt frustrated as he hardly understood a single word from his instructor. However, he was not beaten and made every effort to learn English himself. Mr. Cheung said that the Internet was a blessing for Sai-ho. Given his disabilities, Sai-ho managed to ‘travel’ and ‘visit’ renowned universities around the world on the Internet. He loved to read research papers and dissertations in his field which gave him valuable knowledge but at the same time benefited Sai-ho much when he wrote his own research essays. After graduating from Higher Diploma in Computer System Administration, he progressed to the top-up degree and graduated with a first-class honours degree. Sai-ho made the impossible possible.
Applying His Expertise into Real Practice
Sai-ho joined a social enterprise after graduating from the university. He put his expertise into real practice and helped people with disabilities to become self-reliance. He utilised his skills in developing a mobile app – 9S-Whole Brain Development, for people with autism. The app focuses on using the nine ways, which human used to learn, helping autistic people to express themselves. Sai-ho then worked with Microsoft to develop e-class, an online platform enabling schools to manage students learning, day-to-day administration and communication. E-class is now widely used in local schools, ranging from kindergartens to secondary schools in Hong Kong. Again, Sai-ho made the impossible possible.
Returning to School to Pursue the Goals
What makes Sai-ho returning to school after working for two years? “I wanted to get a promotion.” A simple answer reflected that Sai-ho has clear goals for his future. Sai-ho wanted to gain some working experience which is valuable for his further studies at the master level. After two years of working, he thought it was time to pick up his school bag again and set sail. “As Sai-ho has encountered severe physical disabilities, he cannot compete with others on a level playing field. To achieve his goal, he has to run faster and work harder in order to outperform others.”
Mr. Cheung said with a wry smile.
Living in Tin Shui Wai, Sai-ho finally chose to study in HKBU. The convenient location of the university is a major reason to a student with disability, and also for his father to accompany him to the university which facilitates his daily communication with professors and peers. However, what is equally important is the caring and supportive environment of HKBU which makes him feeling at home.
Sai-ho is now studying a part-time taught postgraduate programme. Due to his physical condition, he applied to extend his study from two years to four years. With his strong background in computer studies, he thought that the programme would not be too hard for him. Yet, he realised that he is a total stranger to topics like ‘Cloud Computing’ and ‘Big Data’. Therefore, he has taken more time to master the unfamiliar terrain. Fortunately, Sai-ho is now back on track, thanks to the help of his fellow classmates and faculty members of Department of Computer Science. And a special person that had come into Sai-ho’s life at this point is
Dr. Martin Choy, lecturer of the Department, who has become his mentor and friend. Under Dr. Choy’s guidance, Sai-ho is on his way again to make the impossible possible.
The Next Stop is…
Sai-ho once has said, “To go further, one has to set a clear goal.” So what is his next step after completing the Master’s Degree? “I would like to do a PhD. I want to contribute to the community and help the disabled with my professional knowledge.” He said. Sai-ho is now working on a tool which can assist the daily life of the disabled, hoping that it can bring real benefit for them in the future. He also stated that he will not obtain any patent for his invention as he intends to contribute to the society. In the long run, Sai-ho plans to work as a consultant or an apps writer in his career. On the other hand, Mr. Cheung has worries about his son, “My wife and I are getting old and our physical conditions are getting worse. One day, we will not be able to take care of Sai-ho anymore. We will be very grateful if Sai-ho can earn his living and take care of himself.”
The Most Grateful is…
Though it is not an easy journey, many people played a role in it. Who is Sai-ho most grateful to? “I need to thank so many people. There are far too many to name but there are some people whom I would like to thank in person. First, of course are my parents. They never give up on me and walk with me as always with so much care and love. Besides, I am also grateful to the teachers from IVE for their nurture and dedication which gave me strong foundation in Mathematics and Science. I would like to express my gratitude to Mr. Howard Ling from social enterprise who helped me enormously at work. Lastly, special thanks to HKBU where I met so many good teachers and friends and enables me to pursue my goal.”
Afterword
Sai-ho’s English name, Sunny, best described the nice weather on the day of the interview. There was never a dull moment in the interview. The father and son interaction spilled so much love into the air and nothing more is needed to prove the unconditional love parents have for their children. This interview is so touching and all is beyond words.
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| Sai-ho’s unswervingly positive attitude and determination has inspired many people. |
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| Their interaction shows the unconditional love of father for his son. |
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